By Asfar Faridy
New Delhi: Vice President Mohammad Hamid Ansari while urging the Indian Muslim community to study and emulate the manner in which Asian Muslim societies like Indonesia, Malaysia, Iran and Turkey have addressed the questions of knowledge and gender deficit, asked them to confront the evils of ignorance and stagnation.
Mr. Ansari was addressing the Annual Convocation of Jamia Millia Islamia on Tuesday. Emphasising on the need to comprehend the concepts of Ijtehad and Maslaha in the light of contemporary Islamic thought in different parts of the world, the vice president said there should be willingness to use them to address the contemporary problems in Indian Muslim society.
Saying that tradition is double-edged sword and it is used both to deny change and to justify it, he urged the Muslim community to seek conceptual clarity about tradition and modernity.
Referring to the Justice Sachchar Committee Report on economic, educational and social condition of the Muslims in the country, he said that there is a need for structured effort to confront the evils of ignorance and stagnation through a sustainable programme of education and social reform.
On the occasion of annual convocation of Jamia Millia Islamia honourary degrees were also conferred on renowned film maker Shyam Benegal, legendary painter M F Hussain, late Urdu fiction writer Qurratul Ain Haider and Sarod maestro Ustad Amjad Ali Khan. While Mr. Benegal was present in the ceremony, the honorary degrees for others were received by their relatives.
Fakhruddin T Khorakiwala presided over the function and conferred the honourary degrees.
In his speech Prof. Mushirul Hasan Vice Chancellor of Jamia Millia Islamia stated about the recent all round development at Jamia and urged the students to make the best use of their years at university and the opportunities it offers them. The vice chancellor urged them to exploit their latent talents and go out to spread themselves and set out lofty goals and ideals.
There was a huge gathering at the function including diplomats and senior scholars and administrators.